Gala to celebrate more than 50 years of scholarships for Natives

Native Forward Scholars Fund, the largest direct pro­vider of scholarships for Native students, will celebrate its 55th anniversary on April 2 at 6-9pm with a gala at Venue 808 in San Diego.

This year’s gala, themed “Em­powering Native Futures,” is not only a milestone, but also a high energy celebration of Native scholars, their achieve­ments, and the transformative power of education in Indige­nous communities. Supporters, alumni, and advocates will come together for a night filled with inspiration, entertainment, and opportunities to make a lasting impact.

Angelique Albert, CEO of Na­tive Forward Scholars Fund, said only 55 years ago, there were only 38 Native lawyers, 15 Native doctoral students, and 30 Native medical doctors.

“That same year, Native For­ward Scholars Fund (previously the American Indian Graduate Center) was founded to expand access to quality higher educa­tion for all Native students,” he said. “Today, Native Forward has awarded scholarships to over 22,000 Native students from all 50 states and more than 500 Tribes pursuing high­er education. This has resulted in $15 million annually in direct scholarships, student program­ming, and support services.”

Albert said investing in ac­cess to higher education for Native students contributes to greater economic mobility, self-determination, and tribal sov­ereignty for scholars and tribal communities.

“Our scholarships expand the inclusion of Native perspectives across industries and profes­sions. Scholar Mitchell Rose Bear Don’t Walk (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes) re­ceived a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and brings a critical approach to ethnobotany, combining sci­ence and Native food systems to promote holistically healthy communities. Scholar Breckin Horton (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) recently completed a medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in a field where Native students comprise less than 1% of stu­dents. She is committed to en­suring that Native experiences and community-centric health­care initiatives are prioritized to prevent systemic inequities in healthcare provision,” said Albert. “We have increased the graduation rates of undergrad­uate students to 69%—com­pared to the national average of 41% for Native students and increased the rate for gradu­ate students to 95% by pairing scholarships with meaningful, culturally congruent student support and programming. We are here to support Native undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to achieve their educational goals, and our work will not be complete until we are able to create opportuni­ties, empower, and provide fi­nancial support to every Native student in this country wanting to pursue higher education.”

Albert said the 55th Annual Gala is a momentous celebra­tion of the achievements of Na­tive scholars and the bright futures they are shaping. This milestone event unites support­ers, alumni, and advocates to honor the transformative power of education in Indigenous com­munities.

“Guests will experience an evening of Native foods, arts, and entertainment, including performances by renowned Na­tive artists such as Taboo and Supaman, an opera performance by a scholar, a performance by a hoop dancer, and live art. There will also be Native foods served. The event provides an oppor­tunity to experience inspiring performances and connect with people,” she said. “The gala is also an opportunity to expand our impact. Currently, we can fund only 22% of all applicants, leaving 78% of students unfund­ed. Our work at Native Forward will not be complete until we are able to create opportunities, empower, and provide financial support to every Native student in this country wanting to pur­sue higher education.”

The Hall of Fame honors the legacy of our founders, whose work began in 1969 and con­tinues to drive impact through and alongside our scholars and alumni for Native communities today, said Albert.

“Past honorees have included notable Native Forward alumni such as the first Native U.S. De­partment of the Interior Secre­tary Deb Haaland, Presidential Humanities Award Recipient Dr. Henrietta Mann, and the Delegate-designate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Cherokee Nation, Kimber­lee Teehee. Past inductees also included Native Forward’s Co- Founders Robert Bennett, who served as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and John Rainer, executive director of National Congress of American Indians. This year’s inductees will be announced at the gala. We en­courage everyone to buy their tickets now to be a part of this momentous celebration,” she said.

Albert said the impact on lo­cal tribes is providing access to higher education by investing in student scholarships contrib­utes to greater economic mo­bility, self-determination, and Tribal sovereignty for scholars and Tribal communities. Native Forward Scholars Fund is the largest scholarship provider to Native students who are from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states.

“We have always been and continue to fund Native stu­dents in San Diego and Cali­fornia. In fact, California is always one of our top 3 states for scholars. We fund students from California as well as those from other states who want to attend school in San Diego and California,” she said. “One example of a Native Forward scholar studying in San Diego is Brianna Irons, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, who is a ris­ing fourth-year medical student at UC San Diego. Brianna is a part of a five-year MD/master’s program committed to training physicians to meet the needs of under-resourced communities. She hopes to empower Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Ur­ban Indian Healthcare systems through community-based par­ticipatory research and qual­ity improvement initiatives, particularly as they pertain to improving child and adolescent health. This is just one example of our many incredible scholars and alumni who are making im­pacts for Native communities.”

Albert said Native students already experience significant barriers to accessing higher education, especially when it comes to college affordability.

“To apply for scholarships, Native students can apply through NativeForward.org. Native students are required to be degree-seeking and attend­ing an accredited institution full-time in the U.S. We also ask that prospective scholarship recipients demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eli­gibility Certificate (TEC), which is due by July 15 each academic year,” she said. “We work with Native students every day, hearing their experiences. We do not just provide scholar­ships. We also provide support services to students. That is our secret sauce in supporting our students through graduation and beyond. We support Native students through the scholar­ship process, financial aid coun­seling, assistance with FAFSA applications, and advocating for improving policies and increas­ing on-campus support. We also collaborate with other schol­arship organizations to break down barriers so that all stu­dents wishing to pursue higher education can do so.”

Interested attendees can buy tickets and learn more about Native Forward at www.Native­Forward.org/55th-anniversary-gala/.